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The National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit, non-partisan, civil rights organization focusing on issues relating to the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. They maintain an affiliated, separated segregated funds (SSF) Federal PAC, and a non-profit legal foundation (National Foundation for Gun Rights).

History

Headed by Dudley Brown, a long-time gun rights advocate and director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, the National Association for Gun Rights was formed in 2000 as a grassroots, member-centric organization with a no-compromise, approach to gun rights issues through an aggressive strategy.

The Association's budget for 2011 was approximately $3.5 million.

Grassroots strategy

The organization's formation and growth relies heavily on the financial support of concerned gun owners and activists. The organization approaches law by working on federal legislation and regulation as well as state legislation.

Federal goals

National Association for Gun Rights claims to be actively engaged in federal lobbying efforts to protect the rights of gun owners. According to their website, amongst their top issues is their opposition to United Nations “Small Arms Treaty.”

The group's opposition to the proposed treaty is outlined in a 2010 Washington Times editorial which stated “This U.N. treaty will lead to more gun control in America. ‘After the treaty is approved and it comes into force, you will find out that it has this implication or that implication and it requires the Congress to adopt some measure that restricts ownership of firearms,’ former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John R. Bolton warns. ‘The administration knows it cannot obtain this kind of legislation purely in a domestic context. They will use an international agreement as an excuse to get domestically what they couldn’t otherwise.’”

Other recent subjects covered by the group include:

• Operation Fast and Furious”
• Opposition to reauthorization of the Patriot Act and offering support for amendments offered by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).
• Lobbying against MAIG’s ban on private firearm sales
• Opposition to the M1 Garand re-importation Ban.
• Opposition to the proposed National Concealed Reciprocity Act suggesting that such a bill is a "Trojan Horse for Gun Control".

In July 2012, USA Today interviewed Luke O'Dell, Director of Political Operations, in relation to proposed legislative actions on "high capacity magazines." "Who determines what 'high-capacity' is?" O'Dell asks. "It's a slippery slope we start walking when we start picking and choosing what rights of the Constitution and Bill of Rights we're going to follow."

Executive Vice President Dudley Brown was also deeply involved in the fight during the Rules Committee meeting at the 2012 Republican Convention in Tampa, Florida. The rules committee voted for an entire set of revised rules, which were " negotiated behind the scenes by Romney’s surrogates..." The rules changes were meant to prevent a candidate like Ron Paul from winning due to their organization at the convention, rather than by popular vote. Brown was part of the group desperately trying to stop these changes.

State goals

The National Association for Gun Rights works closely with state-level gun rights groups and activists in various states. Working with Wyoming Gun Owners, the organization focused a great deal of effort on the Wyoming legislature in order to lobby for no-permit needed Constitutional Carry there, which was signed into law on March 2. 2012. They also utilized their relationship with Iowa Gun Owners during the 2011 Iowa Straw Poll in Ames, Iowa.

In a recent change of leadership in the Colorado State Legislature, NAGR was influential in supporting a pro-gun Senator to take the place of one they felt was not supportive of Second Amendment rights. The state senator whose loyalty to the Second Amendment was called into question called Dudley Brown, NAGR's Executive Director, "the most dangerous man in Republican politics."

The top state-level priority of the National Association for Gun Rights is to pass no-permit needed Constitutional Carry. Constitutional Carry is the right to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. Executive Director Dudley Brown believes strongly that “if you don’t need a permit to exercise your First Amendment rights, why should you need one for the Second Amendment?”

In 2012 the National Association for Gun Rights sued the state of Montana over state laws that may require the organization to register as a political committee and meet ‘onerous burdens imposed upon such committees’ prior to mailing postcards critical of Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock’s record on gun rights. According to the IRS, “a section 501(c)(4)… may engage in some political activities, so long as that is not its primary activity.” Bullock was a candidate for Governor. NAGR’s request for a preliminary injunction was denied in October. Bullock was elected Governor the following month.

Status and fundraising

With a March 2013 fundraising letter authored by Senator Rand Paul, The National Association for Gun Rights Inc. described itself as a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)4 advocacy organization, and that contributions or gifts to it are not tax deductible for IRS purposes.

Survey program

As a non-profit organization, the National Association for Gun Rights does not endorse candidates. However, NAGR runs a survey program that works to let its members know where each candidate stands on the issue of gun rights.

This survey is written to cover specific questions related to Second Amendment issues and is sent to candidates of all parties seeking election.

Place amongst other organizations in the gun rights debate

In November 2011 the US House passed legislation "that would require states that issue concealed gun permits to recognize similar licenses from other states." The bill was supported by National Rifle Association who considered it to be a top priority, and opposed by the National Association for Gun Rights on the basis that it could become a "Trojan horse for more gun control".

Luke O'Dell, spokesperson for the National Association for Gun Rights was interviewed for a USA Today story after the 2012 Colorado movie theater shooting, "Gun rights vs. gun control: Nation is again squaring off". He said that the shootings, and the threat of greater gun control stemming from them are driving people into gun stores and that gun owners are also filling up training courses in Colorado. "People take their self-defense seriously in Colorado," he said. "A tragedy like the murders in Aurora is often a catalyst to reminding people they need to be looking out for themselves."

National Foundation for Gun Rights

Through its Foundation, the National Association for Gun Rights, filed a suit against the U.S. Postal Service for prohibiting the carry of firearms on Postal Service property.

In addition, during the McDonald v. Chicago Supreme Court case, an amicus brief filed by the National Association for Gun Rights was cited by the court prior to the victory for gun owners.

In early 2010 NAGR and RMGO threatened legal action against Colorado State University over the right of students and faculty to legally carry a concealed firearm on campus. CSU rescinded their gun ban in May of that year.

National Association for Gun Rights PAC (NAGR-PAC)

The National Association for Gun Rights PAC (NAGR-PAC) is an affiliated, but Separate Segregated Fund (SSF) Political Action Committee registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Founded in 2010, it endorsed and donated to several candidates for Federal office including Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA), Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Sharron Angle (NV-SEN), Ken Buck (CO-SEN), and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).

NAGR-PAC in the 2012 election cycle endorsed Richard Mourdock, who defeated Dick Lugar for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination in Indiana, with an initial contribution of $4,500 to his campaign, Steve Daines, who ran a successful campaign for Montana’s at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Steve Stockman who ran a successful campaign for Texas’s 36th Congressional District. As of the most recent reporting NAGR-PAC spent $83,312 in election-related expenses during the 2012 election cycle.

References

1. O'Conell, Vanessa (2010-04-19). "Gun Advocates Open a New Front:Saying NRA Isn't Imaginative, Splinter Groups Seek More Aggressive Tactics". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2013-11-13.
2. "Corporate Data Inquiry". ID 0537656-1: State Corporation Commission, Commonwealth of Virginia. Retrieved 13 November 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
3. "The UN Gun Grabber".
4. "Gunrunnners and Gunwalkers".
5. "Rand Paul Fought to Amend Patriot Act".
6. "They Call You A Terrorist".
7. "M1 Rifles An Update About the Obama Scam".
8. "HR 822 Moves to the Senate".
9. Jervis, Jervis. "Gun control advocates target high-capacity magazines". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2012-11-13.</}}
10. Hihmann, James. "RNC 2012: Tampa floor fight less likely". Politico. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
11. "FAQ: WGO works for gun owners, not politicians". Wisconsin Gun Owners. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
12. "Leadership Team". Utah Gun Owners. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
13. "Big win for a first step toward restoring freedom". Wyoming Gun Owners. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
14. "One small step for Wyoming, one giant leap for gun rights". NAGR via Outdoors International. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
15. Haberman, Maggie. "Pro-gun group says it wants Perry answers". Politico. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
16. "Rivals".
17. "Memorandum HB 1092 - Priola -2/9/12" (PDF). House Judciary Committee Testamony / Handouts. National Association for Gun Rights via Colorado. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
18. "Hearings on Constitutional Carry and Preemption this Thursday". New Hampshire Firearms Coalition, Inc. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
19. Youderian, Annie. "Gun-Rights Group Takes Aim at Montana Laws". Courthouse News Service. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
20. "Requirements for Exemption". Internal Revenue Service.
21. "Judge denies request to bypass disclosure law". Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
22. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/17/us/politics/house-approves-bill-making-travel-easier-for-gun-owners.html House Approves Bill Making Travel Easier for Gun Owners New York Times, by Bloomberg News November 17th, 2011 Retrieved December 3rd, 2012
23. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/NEWS/usaedition/2012-07-25-aurora-guns-graphic_ST_U.htm Gun rights vs. gun control: Nation is again squaring off By Rick Jervis and John McAuliff, USA TODAY July 25, 2012 Retrieved December 3, 2012
24. "Suit over Postal Service gun ban proceeds".
25. "Amicus Brief in McDonald v. Chicago: On Behalf of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners and National Association for Gun Rights".
26. "Group Threatens To Sue CSU Over Gun Ban".
27. "Colorado State Rescinds Campus Gun Ban After Court Ruling".
28. "NRA Set to Endorse Democrat Markey (CO-4)".
29. "Committees And Candidates Supported/Opposed".
30. "Report shows where the money is going in Congressional races". IndyStar.com. February 1, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
31. "NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR GUN RIGHTS INC PAC". Federal Election Comission. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
32. "Top Contributors, 2012 Race: Montana District 01". OpenSecrets.org. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
33. "Top Contributors, 2012 Race: Texas District 36". OpenSecrets.org. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
34. "National Assn for Gun Rights Expenditures". Open Secrets.org. Retrieved 2012-11-13.

External links

• Official website

• 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations
• Civil rights organizations in the United States
• Gun rights advocacy groups in the United States
• Lobbying organizations in the United States